The Bang & Olufsen app is widely praised as polished, stable and genuinely useful, with EQ, stereo setup, battery readouts and extra content. One review noted a radio feature hiccup.
The Bose app is considered clean and easy to navigate, though feature-light; it is mainly used for EQ, shortcut settings, and firmware.
A recurring complaint is that Gen 2 cannot stereo-pair with the original Flex, which reduces upgrade appeal for existing owners.
Battery life is one of its best features. The 24-hour claim is repeatedly praised and several reviewers found real-world endurance strong or even conservative at moderate volume.
Bose quotes up to 12 hours, but independent testing and real-world comments often land closer to roughly 7 hours at moderate-high levels, and around a few hours at max volume.
AAC and aptX Adaptive support are appreciated, but Bluetooth 5.1 feels dated and the lack of Auracast comes up repeatedly as a missed opportunity.
Alongside standard codecs, several reviews mention Snapdragon Sound and aptX support for compatible Android devices; iPhone users will not benefit from the aptX path.
Bluetooth stability is a strong point, with reviewers reporting dependable pairing and no meaningful dropouts in normal use.
Bluetooth 5.3 connection is repeatedly described as reliable, with few reports of dropouts during everyday use.
Bluetooth range is solid for normal portable use, roughly room-to-garden or around 10 meters, but nobody describes it as exceptional.
Range is commonly described as solid for a portable speaker, with at least one review citing about 30 feet in typical use.
Charging takes around three hours, which is acceptable but commonly described as leisurely or on the long side.
A full recharge is commonly reported at about four hours, which is slower than some competitors.
Its presentation is repeatedly described as composed, unified and together-sounding, with strong musical organization.
Physical buttons are consistently described as clicky, positive and easy to use.
Button feel is mixed: some call them mushy or hard to operate by touch, while others find the concave layout easier than it looks.
Design is the headline feature. Nearly every review describes the A1 3rd Gen as beautiful, premium, luxurious and unusually desirable for a portable speaker.
The slim, curved form and premium materials are widely praised, with multiple color options and a portable shape that fits bags easily.
Detail retrieval is a major strength. Reviews repeatedly praise how much vocal texture, instrument separation and fine nuance it extracts for such a small speaker.
Detail and separation are frequently praised for the size, helping vocals and instruments stay clear when not pushed to extreme volume.
The A1 3rd Gen generally stays composed when pushed, with little change in character at high volume, though bass-heavy tracks and resonant surfaces can expose some strain or boom.
At very high volume, several reviews note added harshness, compression, or bass control kicking in; it generally stays listenable, but peak loudness is where it sounds least refined.
Build quality is excellent, but the aluminum finish can scuff and reviewers are less comfortable throwing it around than a rugged JBL-style speaker.
Multiple sources describe the build as rugged and drop-resistant with a rubberized shell; cosmetic scuffs on the metal grille can happen if dropped face-down.
The IP67 rating is repeatedly cited as providing strong dust protection for sandy or dirty environments.
It handles dynamic swings capably for a small portable, but several reviews say larger or cheaper rivals still sound more explosive.
At higher output, DSP management reduces bass to keep distortion in check, trading some impact for cleaner playback.
EQ customization is one of the best parts of the experience. The preset system and visual sound control are intuitive, effective and unusually enjoyable to use.
You get a basic three-band EQ plus a small set of simple presets; it is useful but not deep compared with richer equalizers elsewhere.
Multiple sources state it floats, adding peace of mind around pools or on boats.
Its tonal balance is warm, rich and polished rather than strictly neutral, with standout mids and vocals, controlled bass and smooth highs. Some listeners wanted more treble bite or deeper sub-bass.
Overall tuning is described as clean and well balanced with surprisingly strong bass for the form factor; many listeners preferred a small bass and treble lift via EQ.
The leather strap looks and feels premium and makes carrying or hanging the speaker easy.
The built-in loop or strap is handy for clipping to bags, but some reviewers wished it were more flexible or included a carabiner-style solution.
Some reviewers mention Bose SimpleSync or linking with Bose soundbars or smart speakers for shared audio, extending use beyond pure portable listening.
Supports stereo pairing with another Gen 2 and a party or link mode with certain Bose speakers; coverage expansion is easy but the ecosystem is more limited than some rivals.
Bluetooth 5.3 helps keep video delay low; minor latency was noted by at least one reviewer but not usually a deal-breaker.
It gets impressively loud for a compact speaker and can fill a room or hotel space, but it is not the brute-force outdoor party option and some reviewers wanted more outright volume for the price.
Gets impressively loud for its size and can fill a small room or entertain a small outdoor group, but it is not a true party or boombox speaker.
Stereo pairing is a genuine strength. Reviews say it is easy to set up and useful in practice, including pairing with a 2nd-gen A1 in several cases.
Linking two speakers for stereo or party mode is generally reported as straightforward and stable once set up.
Multipoint support is a real plus and reviewers found switching between two devices simple and reliable.
Multipoint is supported and reviewers report smooth switching or shared use between two connected devices.
Sound disperses broadly and works well for room or table listening, though not every reviewer agrees it is truly 360-degree audio.
No summary yet.
Reviews explicitly note you should not expect to charge a phone from this speaker.
Pairing and setup are straightforward, helped by Fast Pair or Swift Pair support and a clean companion app.
Setup and daily use are generally described as simple, especially with the dedicated play/pause and shortcut controls.
Gen 3 drops Alexa entirely, which reduces smart-speaker appeal versus Gen 2, even if several reviewers said they did not miss it.
Speakerphone performance is generally good, with clear calls and solid voice pickup, though some reviewers heard slightly processed edges to voices.
A built-in mic is included for calls; it is functional for quick conversations but not standout in clarity.
The status LEDs work, but they are fairly subtle, and a couple of reviewers wanted them larger or more obvious.
Status feedback such as indicator lights or spoken battery announcements is mentioned as helpful for quick checks without opening the app.
Single-speaker playback is more directional with a relatively narrow soundstage; stereo pairing improves width and separation but requires a second Gen 2 unit.
Sustainability stands out for the category thanks to repairability, a replaceable battery and Cradle to Cradle certification.
USB-C charging is standard and convenient, but it is used for charging only rather than audio input.
Value for money is the most debated part of the A1 3rd Gen. Many think the sound, materials and longevity justify the premium, but value-minded reviewers still see better sound-per-dollar from cheaper JBL and other larger rivals.
It is priced at a premium, but most reviewers feel the sound and durability justify it, especially when discounted.
Its IP67 rating is consistently treated as trustworthy for poolside, shower and beach use, and several reviewers mention quick dunk-style tests without issue.
IP67 water resistance is consistently highlighted as a major strength for outdoor, pool, and beach use.
It is portable enough for bags and travel, with reassuring heft, but it is not featherlight or pocket-sized.
Around 1.2 to 1.3 pounds, it is viewed as easy to pack while still feeling solid and premium.
No summary yet.
USB-C works for both charging and wired audio, giving the A1 more flexibility than many Bluetooth-only rivals. USB-C wired playback is more than a checkbox feature. Reviews that tried it reported extra clarity, punch and definition compared with Bluetooth.
No 3.5mm AUX and no USB audio input were noted, so playback is wireless only.